The famous gothic main façade
The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, commonly known as St Mark’s Basilica (in Italian: Basilica di San Marco) is the cathedral church of Venice, Italy. It is one of the best and rare examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. It is dedicated to and holds the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist, the patron Saint of the city. Many of the columns, reliefs, and sculptures were spoils stripped from the churches, palaces, and public monuments of Constantinople as a result of the Venetian participation in the Fourth Crusade.
Admission to the basilica is free but certain areas of it require a ticket, such as the Saint Mark’s museum, Pala d’Oro, the Bell Tower, and the Treasury. Avoid weekends and religious holidays. During low season the waiting line is small and it is better to go from 11.30 to 12.30 when the gilded mosaics look most impressive. During high season instead try to avoid midday because it is the most crowded period of the day. During high season to visit at the opening or one hour before closing time is a good idea to try to avoid long queues. Between 90 minutes and two hours should be enough time to visit St. Mark’s Basilica.
St. Mark’s Basilica place of worship and like any other place of worship it requires an appropriate dress code: your shoulders must be covered and skirts and shorts should reach below the knee. Large backpacks and big items should also be left at Ateneo San Basso, across the Piazzetta dei Leoncini from the basilica, free of charge before entering. Visitors are asked not to speak loudly, and guides are required to use headsets and earphones to give tours. Visitors are not permitted to take photographs or film inside the basilica.
How to best experience St. Mark’s Basilica?
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Best St. Mark’s Basilica Tickets
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When was the St. Mark’s Basilica built?
The construction of the Basilica, which initially was going to be a prolongation of the Palazzo Ducale, began in 828 to house Saint Mark’s relics which had been smuggled out of Alexandria. Although the current building is from the eleventh century, it has been renovated and modified throughout the centuries.
When did the St. Mark’s Basilica become the cathedral of the city?
It became the city’s cathedral in 1807. It has over 4,000 square meters of mosaics, some from the thirteenth century, and 500 columns from the third century.
Why was the St. Mark’s Basilica built?
The present structure is the third church, begun probably in 1063 to express Venice’s growing civic consciousness and pride. The current Basilica is built in the shape of a Latin cross and has five domes.
What is St. Mark’s Basilica famous for? Why is it called the “Golden Church”?
The basilica is known in the world above all for its mosaics, clearly of Byzantine style. Inside the basilica the gold colour prevails and for this reason it is called the “Golden Church”. In the mosaics scenes from the Old and the New Testament are represented. The glass tiles of the mosaics are covered with gold leaf.
General informations
Useful information for your visit to St. Mark’s Basilica.
Location
The church is located on the eastern end of Saint Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), the former political and religious centre of the Republic of Venice, and is attached to the Doge’s Palace. Prior to the fall of the republic in 1797, it was the chapel of the Doge and was subject to his jurisdiction, with the concurrence of the procurators of Saint Mark de supra for administrative and financial affairs.
Opening hours
To visit St Mark’s Basilica the times are as follows:
- Daily from 9:30 am until 5 pm
Sunday: from 2 pm until 4 pm (The Basilica opens until 5 pm between 16th April and 28th October) - From the end of October to the middle of April, St Mark’s Museum is open from 9.45 am to 4.45 pm. For the rest of the year, the museum is open from 9.35 am to 5 pm.
- The Pala d’Oro and the Treasury are open at the same time as St Mark’s Museum except on Sundays and holidays, when they open from 2 pm to 4.30 pm or 5 pm depending on the opening hours of the basilica.
- From October until March the Bell Tower is open from 9.30 am daily. During early April it is open from 9 am and from the end of April until the end of September it opens from 8.30 am daily. During winter the Bell Tower is generally open until 4.45 pm and during summer it is open until 9 pm. Last admission is 15 minutes before the tower closes for the day. The Bell Tower may close for maintenance throughout the year and it also closes when there are adverse weather conditions.
How to get to St. Mark’s Basilica
To reach St. Mark’s Basilica:
Water Buses: San Zaccaria or San Marco, lines 1, 2, 41, 42, 51, 52, N and LN.
Attractions nearby
- San Marco (14 m)
- Campanile di San Marco (70 m)
- Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace, 81 m)
- Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square, 126 m)
- Museo Correr in Venice (214 m)
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